ANTHONY OSARFO WRITES TO THE MOVIE INDUSTRY

The world outside is making billions of dollars from an industry they’ve taken serious whiles we have nothing to write home about from the same industry. Over the years the story has been the same and we always complain but no action taken. Those who know the way out are never given the opportunity but those who are clueless are the ones in the forefront. 

The Film Festivals on the African continent are serious places for our industry players to connect yet they have no idea whats going on around them. This is a painful situation that must not continue. 

Mr Anthony Osarfo, a seasoned journalist, movie critic and an entertainment pundit writes to the

industry including the sector ministry and this is what it states:

‘‘I had press accreditation to cover this year’s ZANZIBAR FILM FESTIVAL in Tanzania in my capacity as a SCREENWRITER/MOVIE CRITICS – but I’m unable to attend due to no sponsorship to cater for my airfare, feeding, and accommodation.  I’m supposed to have been there this Wednesday

Every short while, I get email notification – from the organizers, filmmakers, and exhibitors, asking me to attend a movie premier/preview or a short meeting with the accredited press.

I took my time to go through the list of countries/filmmakers that submitted their movies for the festival and so far, I’ve not come across any Ghanaian movie. “What about Nigeria/Nigerians?” You know the answer.

I perused the media list too, and did not see many names of giant media houses – JOY, CITI, STARR, HITZ, GHONE, and others. GBC, MEDIA GENERAL, and ATINKA MEDIA GROUP, are the only notable media houses from Ghana I saw.

I also went through the list of resource persons scheduled to give speeches, lectures, and presentations and its dominated by NIGERIAN and SOUTH AFRICAN filmmakers/experts. I did not see even one Ghanaian filmmaker or expert in there.

Our Tourism Ministry? Missing in action.

ZANZIBAR FILM FESTIVAL is a deluxe and most prestigious film festival in Africa – attended by filmmakers from well-structured and developed filmmaking jurisdictions. 

Ghanaian filmmakers and industry players are not NETWORKING enough. Poor networking is our bane’’.

A word to the wise…………………………………………..